Market Women n.d.

Henri-Gabriel Ibels made this pastel drawing of market women in France. The image shows a slice of Parisian life, but in a way that critiques the institutions of art. Ibels, like many artists of his time, was interested in depicting modern life, but unlike the Impressionists, he wasn't so interested in capturing fleeting moments of beauty. Instead, he wanted to show the gritty reality of urban life, the lives of ordinary people. This drawing depicts women who worked in the marketplace, a common sight in Paris at the time. But Ibels doesn't romanticize them. They are shown as hardworking and perhaps a little worn down by life. Ibels was associated with the Nabis, a group of Post-Impressionist avant-garde artists who rejected academic art and embraced symbolism and spirituality. Market Women is an example of how artists at the time were keen to challenge existing social norms. To understand this artwork better, we can research the history of markets in Paris, the role of women in French society, and the artistic movements of the time. Art is always contingent on social and institutional context.